Putin said that there is a shortage of oil due to the attacks in Ukraine

The impact of Russia’s missile and drone attacks on Ukraine on energy infrastructure from Moscow to the Black Sea and beyond has long been evident.

Queuing at gas stations. Fuel rationing is widespread. Filters hit. Drivers in Russia – added The Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea is forbidden to fill their tanks. Therefore, priority can be given to military vehicles.

But such is the gravity of the situation that it has now been openly acknowledged for the first time by President Vladimir Putin.

At the end of the week, the Russian president discussed the crisis with senior officials and oil officials. And in his public comments, he was unusually clear.

“You are well aware that there will continue to be problems for both drivers and businesses,” he told the meeting. Unfortunately, there are still queues at gas stations, and finding the right grade of gasoline is not always easy.

He also mentioned the problems faced by the agriculture industry and said that the harvest depends on the available fuel supply schedule.

According to the independent Russian outlet Mediazone, currently 56 Russian regions are implementing fuel restrictions.

Later, in an interview with Russian state television, Putin was more open.

He acknowledged that the Ukraine attacks are “creating a problem,” adding that “we’re seeing some shortages at the moment,” but not critical.

He promised to increase the production of air defenses to protect Russia’s energy infrastructure and to repair the oil refineries that Ukraine was able to hit.

In Crimea, Putin admitted he only had “a few days’ supply” left – but said he was confident more fuel would arrive soon.

It is unusual for Putin to speak openly about the impact of the Ukraine attacks and their consequences for the Russian people.

But depending on the extent of the oil shortage and the public’s perception, he had little choice but to acknowledge the fact that, as usual – the Russian war effort was making progress.

This acknowledgment of the problems felt in Crimea is particularly significant given the symbolic importance of the peninsula to many Russians and especially to the Kremlin leader.

In the year Since annexing Crimea in 2014, Moscow has turned it into a military base and a strategic point for control of the Black Sea. In 2022, she used it to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In a televised interview, Putin hinted at why he is open to the problem: Ukraine is trying to divide Russian society, trying to undermine support for the war and increase support for negotiations.

“We don’t give them that chance,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s long-range attacks “had no effect on the situation on the front line.”

Kiev officials have disputed this assessment, saying that Ukraine’s long-range attacks are aimed not only at bringing the war to ordinary Russians, but also at forcing their military commanders away from the front lines.

In recent months, Ukraine has grown increasingly confident that it is turning the tide of war on itself, launching deep attacks on St. Petersburg and Moscow, attacking Crimea, and openly seeking to inflict heavy losses on its front lines.

But the Kremlin said on Monday that Russia’s plans were the same — to force Ukrainian forces to leave four southeastern regions that Moscow claims belong to it, which Kiev rejected. “Our position is well known,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

In the interview, Putin said Ukraine would offer to limit hostilities and start talks – although he dismissed this as an attempt to buy time for Kiev to regroup and regroup.

“It is clear why this proposal was made, because our counter-offensive, which penetrated into the territory of Ukraine, is stronger, more effective and more destructive,” Putin said.

Kiev’s attack on Russia was meant to be a “salvage” for Ukraine’s military, which Putin said was “horribly” depleted.

But saving the Kiev regime is not part of our plan.